User Reviews for Rebif (with albumin) subcutaneous

I had my first symptoms when I was 3 mos preg, which quite uncommon from what I've learned. Pregnancy is called the "honeymoon" from MS. This was early in 2008 and by October, I had an MRI. I started Rebif September of 2010 after having no further symptoms/relapses. I have had all the usual red marks, but only on my thighs and that injection seems to hurt tremendously more than in my tummy or hip. I hardly ever use my thigh anymore. I take out 3 doses at the start of a week and pre-medicate about 15 minutes before the shot. I went to Wal-Mart and bought a antiseptic/pain relief spray to apply to the injection site BEFORE. I think it does kinda numb it. After injecting, I rub with a cotton ball and usually place a band-aid there. All this is done before bedtime, however, I do it late at night and am up all night like there's adrenaline in the damn drug! I'm in no pain or discomfort, but just wired! I'll eventually go to bed at like 2 in the morning, sleep off whatever may be and wake the next morning still charged even with only 5 1/2 hrs. sleep. I'm confused on that one, especially after reading 70+ other reviewers comments. I've noticed my hair is extremely thin and falling out as well as some other reviewers. I have a referral to a dermatologist, but never even thought it could be the Rebif until I read other comments on here. I too, think my thryrod is screwed, as I am mostly vegetarian and workout on the treadmill for 30 mins 3-4 times a week and there's no change in my weight. Have had bloodwork and another MRI since starting and there are no changes. So....I'm thinking it's good. Worse case scenario, I go out and get a waist-length blond wig?!!? BTW, I have 5 boys and am able to keep up with them at 30!Read More Read Less

After being on it for 5 years It is now time to change drugs. My MRI came back with new spots. I did have an absece in my rt thigh from the injections.

I was diagnosed with MS in 2005 & started Rebif injections. Finally started taking 1 Ibuprofin with injection & sleep through flu-like symtoms (ibuprofin really helped). I find it takes about 12 hours to be able to function, so I take shot 12 hrs before I have to get up, no matter when I go to bed. No major relapse & MRI's look the same. I have husband & 3 kids & need a little more rest than before MS, but am thankful for Rebif, it has worked to keep life good.

I hated this drug, I have been on it for 4 yrs and I still can't get use to the flu like symptoms. I can say it did keep me from having ms attacks.

I have been on Rebif since diagnosed in 11/10. I do still get flu like symptoms unless I take it between 8 & 8:30pm. What has been the worst though is the red marks and bruising at injection sites. I wish they would go away. I like this drug and want to continue it so I deal with the bruises. I have recently dropped down from 44 to 22. Maybe that will help.

I have only taken 2 shots so it's way to soon to comment on long term effects. As of now I got very severe muscle aches the first day since I took it in the morning for my training. The second time was not bad since I took Motrin and my inection was at bed time. However I am so irratable I can't stand it! I am hoping this will go away before I lose my job or really make someone offended or mad.

I found while I took Rebif that I could live a "normal life" hardly any problems with my MS, except occasional problems with stress caused by daily life. Now my only problems is being able to afford to take my Rebif because of my medical insurance.Which is my biggest problems, and I can't get my spouse to understand that or my insurance pharmacy company..

I have been on rebif since august 2010, with no real side effect noted. I prayed before I started treatment and my God is Great. I will start my Ampyra treatment in a few days and I will pray it already a blessing for me to even receive this med that cost over a $1000.00 a month but like I said God is the provider in my life you just have to have faith. This is how I've made it so far with a lot of love and pray.

I was diagnosed in 1992 and was given steroids at that time.8 years later had another attack and started on Copaxone with no help and then after 2 years was switched to Rebif and has helped alot.

In 2003, I was diagnosed with MS, optic neuritis being the only physical symptom. Now in 2011, in addition to MS, I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, another autoimmune disease. I believe Rebif is the link. I first took Rebif from 2003 to 2008.While taking Rebif, I was severely depressed but combated that with prozac sufficiently. However, in 2008 I started to be frequently sick (colds, flu, viral infections), and decided that my immune system must be too suppressed. Self-diagnosed, I took myself off of Rebif. I still continued to get annual MRIs for baseline data. In November of 2010, more lesions appeared and I restarted Rebif. My symptoms were similar to my experience in the past, until the end of December. After approximately 4 weeks on the drug, I started to experience a much different symptom. I began having painful, red, feverish swelling of my joints. I had a hard time walking, and could not sleep because of the pain. I saw my neurologist at the beginning of January 2011, and went to a half dose (22), 3xweek. I was given the first test for rheumatoid arthritis. I continued that dosage for 1 week until I could no longer stand the pain. I went off of Rebif. On the 10th of January, I was given the CCP test for rheumatoid arthritis. Both test results were extremely positive. I am now on RA meds. I was told my dad's father had undiagnosed RA. I believe there is some connection with Rebif exacerbating my RA latent genetic tendency, bringing it to the forefront. There was no other change during this time. It seems extremely coincidental. Read More Read Less

I was on rebif for a year. I had awful flu-like syptoms that never went away, got better, and felt no relief from motrin, tylenol, asprin or anything over the counter. Got so i dreaded my shot days because i was absolutely miserable. My MRI showed a few more lessions after the year but small ones. My stomach was the easiest to inject. I had no real bothersome injection site reactions, just red blotches. IAm now on copaxone it burns more, and leaves welts and bruising at the injection site. Other than that I can't even tell I have given myself a shot. HOORAY:)Read More Read Less

I was diagnosed in 2005 with MS and felt like my world was caving in on me. I took my first shot of Copaxone and it gave me a seizure in the doctors office. A few months later I tried Rebif and have been very please with the results. No signs of MS since I started Rebif except for the damage that was already done. My MRI's show no new lesions. I take rebif before I go to bed and also take an advil along with it. Usually I am side effect free besides the occasional headache. I recommed Rebif and hope people are side effect free like I usually am.Read More Read Less

takinf rebiff for 12 years and my ms has remained stable

I was diagnosed in June of 2007 and had been on Rebif since. It was very effective in that I had no new lesions and my MRI's always showed good results. However I did have to go on lovastatin and synthroid once I started Rebif. The absolute worst part was the depression that resulted in me attempting the worst, trying to take my own life. I am now off the Rebif and am waiting to get on Copaxone. Rebif will mess with your emotions, seriously. It worked for me and my MS symptoms, but at what cost?Read More Read Less

re: Tigerherat, Site reactions painful, irritating. Have become sicker and sicker since starting the drug one year ago. Doc. is not interested in stopping or changing to a new regimen. Constipation, stomach pain, weakness, foggy headed, fatigued to mention a few. I too wonder if MS is the problem or the rebif. I only had one thing suggesting MS, the brain lesions. Other problems were resolved with spinal injections and flomax. So, I will be making a decision soon whether to keep shooting up this "chinese hamster ovary cell" stuff or to take my chances with the disease. Read More Read Less

I was diagnosed in 2001 and started with Copaxone which left site reactions. I then started Avonex which was hard to administer and my health insurance moved it to the formulary list so it was no longer a covered treatment. I began Rebif after having read the reviews for several years. I have been relatively symptom free since. I take it at night so the fatigue is not as noticeable and two advil so I don't feel beat up the next morning. It is a blessing to have this medication available and to be able to use it. Margaret in TexasRead More Read Less

I was under possible dx for MS in 2004. Was not given the option for treatment then. Relapsed in October of 09. Chose to start on Rebif. It took me many months to even begin to recover from the relapse, and of course there was some residual symptoms from the MS. I missed an injection here and there in the beginning, but since have done each injection faithfully. I learned to pre med, and do my injections before bed, and didn't seem to have any real problems with side effects. BUT! I began feeling worse and worse all the time. I just felt awful and it seemed like it started in the pit of my stomach and radiated down my legs and my arms. I had a continuous headache that nothing helped to alleviate. I started to feel extremely weak and physically fatigued, which got worse all the time. Lower back pain, balance and coordination got progressively worse. Thought I was having a flare up, went for IV steroids, no real improvement, kept getting weaker. Kept telling doc, she treated me like I was an idiot. Found a new doc, but have only seen him once so far. I understand you shouldn't, but I did my own experiment. Skipped one dose, felt better. Did next dose, felt sick again. Skipped Friday and felt wonderful after a few days!! I have not done an injection since and continue to improve. I haven't felt this good in a long, long time! I will never do Rebif injections again! It was making me worse than my actual MS! I admit my last MRI showed improvement, but if the treatment is worse than the disease, and there is no quality of life on the drug, is it really worth it? How much worse would I have got if I had not experimented on my own? I was scared to death that my MS was getting much worse and more rapidly! Turns out it was Rebif that made me so sick! Glad it works well for others, but definitly not the choice for me! I questioned everytime I did an injection, what I was really putting in my body! How many people get worse due to the treatment and don't even know it? Scarey!Read More Read Less

I have been on rebif for 5 years now and I still feel bad, (aches all over) the day after the injection. It has worked on reducing my lesion load but I still feel so bad that it is hard for me to have a very productive life.

There was a time where I couldn't get my Rebif, and I had flare-up after flare-up. that's when i knew that without Rebif My life would be ALOT worse. Go rebif!!